Resilient vehicle wheel



H. S. GRACE.

RESILIENT vE'HicLE WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. i, 1921.

L' Panama N0v.28,1922.

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II. s. GRACE.`

RESILIENT VEHICLE WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED Aus. I, 1921.

1,437, l 37 Patented. Nov. 28, 1922.

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` INJ/'ENTOR'l Z051 @Pace Bm? M@ l ATTORNEYS Patented Nov, 28, 1922,

UNITE@ STATES anais? earner iormea HENRY S. GRACE, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

RESILIENT VEHICLE WHEEL.

Application-med August 1, 1921. Serial No. 488,832.

To all lwhom t may concern: Y

Be it known that l, HENRY iii.v GRACE, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city and county of San Francisco, and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Resilient vVehicle Wheels, of which the following is a specification. l

The hereinafter described invention is a wheel for use in connection with motor driven vehicles generally, although more particularly adapted for motor driven trucks or vehicles for the transportation of heavy loads, and the same isidesigned to take the place of the pneumatic and solid tired wheels at present employed with motor driven vehicles; the object of the invention being the production of a resilient wheel possessing the advantages of the pneumatic tired wheels in general use, and one in 4which the inflatable inner tube, and equally so, the expensive outer casing is dispensed with, and which may be successfully'substituted for a solid tired wheel while' preserving or maintaining the resilient features of a pneumatic tire, while atthe same time providing a nonpuncturable resilient tired rim member for a wheel structure.

In brief,jtheinvention comprises anon- Vinflatable and non-puncturable rim attachmentl for vehicle wheels so constructed that lwhen applied thereto there is provided a resilient wheel structure-possessing all the advantages of an inflatable pneumatic tired wheel withoutthe defects incident thereto, as for instance the employment of an inner inatable tube, the puncture feature thereof, and the expensive outer casing associated therewith, while at the same time providing an inexpensive, efficient and durable resilient wheel.

To comprehend the invention reference should be had to the accompanying drawings illustrative of a preferred .embodiment of the wheel structure, and wherein Figure' 1 is a side elevation of the improved wheel structure.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2, Figure 3 of the drawings, said view illustrating the interior arrangement of the wheel structure.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3 3 Figure 1 of the drawings.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line l--Ll Figure l of the drawings.

Figure 5 is anend view ofk the inner element removed from the resilient member of the wheel structure.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the drive studs.

The improved wheel structure comprises an inner rigid member A and an outer sur- `rounding yielding resilient member B applied and detachably united thereto in any suitable manner, preferably as the detachable rims are secured to wheels for motor driven vehicles, that is by the usual lugs, bolts and securing nuts. However, the manner of uniting 'the outer yielding member to the inner rigid Lmember of the wheel structure is an immaterial feature of the invention, inasmuch as various 'means of attachment may be employed-the one illustrated being merely a preferred form.

The yielding or surrounds and is detachably held to the inner rigid member A comprises twov cylindrical telescopic elements, each in the present' case being formed in halves or vertical sections held in spaced relation,lthe outer yone vof whichsis of larger diameter than the inner one and fit-s thereover for free vertical sliding movement, serving as a tread carrier of substantially tl-shape in cross section.

The outer end flanged rim portions 2--2v of thefside walls 8 3 of the inner cylindrical element are constructed to interlock one with the other, that is, .the flanged rim portion 2 is formed with a series of spaced projecting male lugs 6 which t snugly within .the female lug seats 6 cut in the edge of the flange rim portion of the side walls 25 when said members of the inner cylindrica element arein assembled position. These interloclred flanged portions form an outer rim for the said element, while the inner portion thereof is closed by a ring plate 7 which fits within the circumferential grooves or channels 7 formed in the inner face of the .side walls 3 3 adjacent their innerextremities.

Within the inner cylindrical or supporting element of the liexible member of the wheel structure there is mounted circumferentially for free rotation a series of transversely disposed spaced roller studs 8, andv sentie member B which p within the roller studs 8 2-2 has the depending flanges or walls 3-3 provided with the cut-out seat or sockets 9. These sockets receive the enlarged shelves 9 of the transversely disposed drive studs 92, which studs have threaded ends that pass through the side walls 5-5 and are united thereto by means of the nuts 10. These drive studs hold the sections of the outer element of the flexible member of the wheel structure fastened one to the other, while at the same time they serve as a means for transmitting thereto the rotary movement of the inner cylindrical element, which is detachably secured to and carried by the inner member A of the wheel structure. Each drive stud 92 intermediate its shouldered portions 9 is formed round and they are positi-oned relative to the inner drum element so as to lie intermediate the transversely disposed roller studs 8.

In the inner face of each side wall of the outer slidable cylindrical elements of the resilient member B of the wheel structure is y formed adjacent its lower or inner end portion, an annular seat or channel 11, into which is fitted a packing ring 12 in order to provide a running seal joint between the inner and outer faces of the cylindrical elements.

VVithin-the inner cylindrical element of the resilient member and located radially therein is positioned one or more split expansible compression rings 13, the ends of which are tapered and overlap. Preferably, two such expansible compression rings are employed, which are tted within the said element' under compression and in superposed relation, the lowermost one bearing frictionally against the under surface of the uppermost of said rings and such ring in turn 'bearing frictionally against the roller studs 8 and forming a cylindrical track therefor.

The outer of the cylindrical elements is carried by and slidable relative to the inner cylindrical element, the drive studs 92 thereof acting against the upper surface of the outermost spring or ring 13 during the vibratory movements of said outer element and the shouldered portion 9 of said drive studs at such times working within the cutout or seat 9 of the inner cylindrical element, the depth of which seats or cut-outs is equal to the extreme vertical inward movement of the outer drum element. Under this construction, the split compression spring or springs within the inner cylindrical element sustains the load of the vehicle and gradually gives under compression to the vibrating movements of the outer sliding cylindrical element, the said element being thereby spring cushioned and normally held outwardly pressed under the tension of said spring or springs 13.

As the outer cylindrical element moves tread carrier, while the vertically under vibrating strains placed thereon, and to which it is subjected when the wheel is in use, the same moves slightly circumferentially relative to the inner element, and such movement is permitted by forming the seats or cut-outs 9 slightly wider than the shouldered portion of the drive studs 9. During such movement of the outer element the drive studs frictionally bear against the upper surface of the expansion spring and impart a slight creep or forward movement thereto, and by so doing provide against crystallization, inasmuch as the bearing points are constantly changing relative to the roller studs and the drive studs.

Onto the flange rim surface 4 which constitutes an overhang 0f the side wall 5 of the outer slidable element of the resilient member of the wheel structure is shrunk an ordinary rim 14, to which is secured any suitable form of a tread 15.

rllhe side walls 5--5 are held together by the drive bolts 92, and the side wall 5 is detachably secured to the depending flange 42 by the screw bolts 16 which extend through the flange 42. By removing one or more of the screw bolts 16 lubricant may be forced into the interior of the outer element of the resilient member for providing proper lubrication between the moving parts of the structure. u

The inner rigid member A is of usual wheel construction, the yielding member B associated therewith constituting a resilient rim attachment therefor; it being understood that the spring cushion represented in the present case by the springs 13 constitute the yieldable compensating means for taking up the vibratory movements of the slidable section of the member B and for providing against shocks being transmitted. to the fixed member A of the wheel structure as well as to restore the same to normal position, it being understood that the strength of compression spring or springs employed is proportionate to the load to be carried by the wheel structure and the type of motor vehicle to which it is to be applied.

The outer element ofthe resilient member of the wheel structure constitutes in the present case a tread carrier substantially U- shaped in cross section, and the inner element on which the same is telescopically mounted constitutes a supporting element therefor provided with interiorly arranged cushioning means for absorbing the vibratory movements of the U-shaped encircling drive studs serve to transmit rotary motion of the supporting element to the tread carrier, to prevent rela'- tive independent movement of the two circumferentially, and at the same time as the means for causing compression of the spring cushioning means. Such a constructed resilient member is believed to be new as applicable to wheels at present 1n use or in.

conjunction with a wheel structure.

Practical use of resilient Wheels constructed as above set forth on a motor driven truck has demonstrated the efficiency and practicability thereof, and disclosed the same to be as elastic and easy riding asvthe ordinary pneumatic tired Wheel. v

The illustrated and described Wheel structure discloses a preferred embodiment of the invention, but I do not Wish to be understood as limiting the invention to the detailed construction of the Working parts as shown and described, but on the contrary Wish to be understood as claiming the invention as broadly as the state of the art warrants.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is A' resilient wheel comprising an inner rigid rim structure having aV suitable hub, an outer rim surrounding said inner rim and composed of connected sections presenting a smooth outer surface and having side walls united with said inner rim, said outer rim sections being provided with a plurality of separated alined openings therein, circumferential springs disposed within said outer rim section and supported thereby, a plurality oi' transverse roller studs supported in said sides of the outer rim sections and impinging upon said circumferential springs, a rim carrying section having outer enclosing sidewalls slidably embracing said outer rim sections, a demountable rim carried by said section, transverse drive studs passing through said alined slots in the walls of the outer rim, said drive studs having enlarged end portions free for a radial movement in said slots, and threaded extensions on said drive studs passing through said side walls of said rim carrying section and united thereto to prevent a relative turning movement of said rim carrying section with respect to the outer rim.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

HENRY s. GRACE. 

